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18

Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata) Alternate name(s): "Gillbird", "Wattled Honeyeater", "Barking Bird", "Mutton-bird*" Aboriginal name(s): "carunculata": "kani yulong" [tjapwurrung]; "wodjalok", "durdal", "doongorok", "djidero" "woodwardi": "djoongong*" (WA) Size: 32-36 cm Weight: 85-130 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Red Wattlebirds are large nectar-eating birds. The general appearance of their plumage is dark grey-brown, with prominent white streaking. The forehead is almost black, while below the eyes there are single white patches. The belly is the only part of the body that is not striated grey; it is yellow. The wings, rather than being striated, are dark-grey, with light-grey edge lining. The undertail coverts are barred. The grey tail is very long, with feathers that have different, tapered lengths, each having a white end. Their most prominent feature, apart from the yellow belly, is a pair of relatively small red wattles under the eyes. Females are smaller than males. The irises are dark-red. The long, curved bill is dark-grey, while the legs and feet are the colour of skin. Juveniles have smaller wattles or none at all yet.

Taxonomy, classification See Red Wattlebird at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Red Wattlebird is available HERE . Red Wattlebirds are endemic to Australia. They populate a wide coastal fringe around the southern half of the Australian continent, from about Geraldton, WA, to Brisbane, QLD. The range of nominate race "carunculata" extends from near Brisbane, QLD, along the East coast of NSW, the South coast of VIC and the Great Dividing Range, including the southern Alps. The transition to the second continental race, "woodwardi", occurs near the VIC/SA border. Race "woodwardi" is found throughout southern SA and WA. In years with good inland rainfall, both continental races can extend their ranges further inland, into the semi-arid interior. Race "clelandi" is found only on Kangaroo Island, SA. Red Wattlebirds can be found in the tree crowns in various types of forest, usually with flowering trees, up to relatively high altitude (observed by us at 1500 m). They adapt quite well to the presence of humans and will enter urban parks and gardens.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "carunculata" Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", were first spotted by us at Mt. Kaputar NP, in October 2005. Since then they are spotted semi-regularly in the hills of the Great Dividing Range, e.g. in the higher-elevation parts of Mt. Kaputar NP, at altitudes of up to about 1500 m. Occasionally, they are spotted by us as far West as the western foothills of the Nandewar Range, at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri, where they are usually seen feeding on nectar of flowering eucalypts. We spotted several Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", while on tour to the North-East of NSW, near Dorrigo and Wollomombi Falls, Oxley Wild Rivers NP. They were also seen by us in Girraween NP, southern QLD, in July 2009. This location is close to the northern edge of the species' range. Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", were found by us and our contributors in abundance in various locations along the NSW coast. A pair of Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", was spotted by J. Wilson at Narrabri Lake in July 2012. R. Plumtree reports spotting Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", occasionally at Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, and at Metung, near Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, VIC. A. Ross-Taylor reports spotting Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", at Stanthorpe, southern inland QLD, near the northern boundary of their range, in March 2015. M. Eaton reports spotting the species at the same location in June 2017. Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", were found by us in Dubbo, NSW, and in the Goonoo NP, between Dubbo and Mendooran, NSW, and in Coonabarabran, NSW, in October 2015. They were also found farther South, in and around Mudgee, NSW, in December 2015. Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", were found nesting in Coonabarabran, NSW, in November 2018. We thank S. Grey for pointing out the location of the nest to us. M. Eaton reports finding Red Wattlebirds, race "carunculata", at the Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, and at Torquay, VIC, in April 2022. Race "woodwardi" J. Greaves reports spotting Red Wattlebirds, race "woodwardi", at Mundaring, 35 km East of Perth, WA, in December 2014, and at Manjimup, WA, in March 2015. Another Red Wattlebird, race "woodwardi", was seen by J. Greaves at Wave Rock, near Hyden, WA, in March 2017. M. Eaton reports finding Red Wattlebirds, race "woodwardi", near Cockburn, WA, in April 2019, and in Port Augusta, SA, in June 2023. C. Pears found Red Wattlebirds, race "woodwardi", at Lake Monger, Perth, WA, in May 2021. Others are found regularly at Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA. In the timeframe September/October 2022, a pair was found nesting there. They are also present on a daily basis in Quindalup, WA. Race "clelandi" J. Greaves reports spotting Red Wattlebirds, race "clelandi", at Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, in March 2016.

Photos

Race "carunculata"

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ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, April 2022]

Frontal view of a Red Wattlebird in a eucalypt
[Manilla, NSW, July 2010]

Close-up lateral portrait of a Red Wattlebird
[Mudgee, NSW, December 2015]

Close-up lateral view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[South West Rocks, NSW, July 2017]

Different lateral view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[South West Rocks, NSW, July 2017]

Lateral view of a Red Wattlebird hopping off its perch (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Metung, near Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, VIC, June 2018]

Lateral view of a Red Wattlebird calling (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Near-dorsal view of a Red Wattlebird
[Manilla, NSW, July 2010]

Near-dorsal view of a Red Wattlebird issuing its call
[Manilla, NSW, July 2010]

Dorsal view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, April 2022]

Distant dorsal view of a Red Wattlebird flying from the ground into a tree
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2014]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Juvenile Red Wattlebird feeding in a bottlebrush tree (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2014]

Juvenile Red Wattlebird feeding in a bottlebrush tree (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2014]

This lateral view of a juvenile Red Wattlebird shows the similarity of its facial mask with a Little Friarbird's
[Coonabarabran, NSW, October 2015]

Fledgling Red Wattlebird that has fallen out of a tree, but then took off again without any damage done
(photo courtesy of C. Lawrence)
[Canberra, ACT, October 2006]

Race "woodwardi"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2023]

Near-lateral view of a Red Wattlebird checking out the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Cockburn, WA, April 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Cockburn, WA, April 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a Red Wattlebird looking backwards (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2023]

Lateral/ventral view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, September 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a Red Wattlebird looking at the observer (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Wave Rock, near Hyden, WA, March 2017]

Close-up dorsal view of a Red Wattlebird looking sideways (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2023]

Dorsal view of a Red Wattlebird looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Cockburn, WA, April 2019]

Close-up dorsal view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2023]

Dorsal view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a juvenile Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Augusta, SA, June 2023]

Lateral view of a juvenile Red Wattlebird begging to be fed (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Augusta, SA, June 2023]

Adult bringing food for a dependent juvenile Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Augusta, SA, June 2023]

Adult feeding a dependent juvenile Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Augusta, SA, June 2023]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Red Wattlebird looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Augusta, SA, June 2023]

Race "clelandi"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Partly obscured near-frontal view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Partly obscured near-ventral view of a Red Wattlebird (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Dec

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: 15-16 days

Fledging age: 15 - 18 days

Red Wattlebirds can breed most months, with a core breeding period as given in the table above.

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Twigs, bark, with fine grass and feather lining

Height above ground: 3 - 20 m

Red Wattlebird nest in a fork in a live eucalypt - note the bird's tail sticking out of the nest almost vertically; S. Grey's help with these observations is greatly appreciated
[Coonabarabran, NSW, November 2018]

View from below of a Red Wattlebird nest in a tree crown (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, September 2022]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 33 x 21 mm

Colour: Creamy, with brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial/communal

Mobility: Partly migratory/dispersive

Elementary unit: Pair/flock

 

Red Wattlebirds can become tame enough to visit people's gardens and beg for food. They are territorial, but can feed in areas with flowering trees in large numbers.

Red Wattlebird begging for food
[Near Dorrigo NP, NSW, August 2009]

The ruffled feathers at this Red Wattlebird's rump indicate that, after taking a bath, is has been using the secretion from its uropygial gland to start oiling its plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2014]

This Red Wattlebird was seen by us on a TV antenna in suburban Newcastle, NSW
[Gateshead, Newcastle, NSW, October 2014]

Food, Diet

To the best of our knowledge Red Wattlebirds feed mostly on nectar, but they also take insects. They profit from the creation of urban gardens and parks with flowering plants.

Red Wattlebird feeding in a lemon-scented eucalypt tree (Eucalyptus citriodora)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2014]

The Red Wattlebird above is feeding on the nectar of the same eucalypt as displayed here

Red Wattlebird feeding on the nectar of a grevillea robusta (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2019]

This Red Wattlebird still has a "sticky beak"
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, October 2011]

Red Wattlebird foraging in an eucalypt tree (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Stanthorpe, QLD, March 2015]

Red Wattlebird taking psyllids (the twig on which the bird is sitting is infested with them)
[Dunn's Swamp, Wollemi NP, NSW, October 2016]

The fact that this Red Wattlebird, about 15 m from an active Willie Wagtail nest, came under sustained, vicious attack suggests that Red Wattlebirds do not shy away from taking other species' chicks
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2019]

Red Wattlebird using its long, rough tongue to lap up water
[Coonabarabran, NSW, October 2015]

Red Wattlebird using its long, rough tongue to lap up water
[Coonabarabran, NSW, October 2015]

Red Wattlebird using its long, rough tongue to lap up water
[Coonabarabran, NSW, October 2015]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

redwatt_20220517.m4a	carunculata (NW NSW)	Contacts call (male)	© MD
redwatt_20180921_4.m4a	carunculata (NW NSW)	Territorial call? (male)	© MD
redwatt_20180921_5.m4a	carunculata (NW NSW)	Territorial calls? (Pair Q&A)	© MD
redwatt_20150124.mp3	carunculata (NW NSW)	Territorial calls? (Pair Q&A)	© MD
redwatt_20150124_3.mp3	carunculata (NW NSW)	Territorial calls? (Pair Q&A)	© MD
redwatt_20140506.mp3	carunculata (NW NSW)	Male defending food source	© MD
redwatt_20140508.mp3	carunculata (NW NSW)	Warning call? (food comp.)	© MD
redwatt_20140508_2.mp3	carunculata (NW NSW)	Fighting (over food)	© MD
redwatt_20140508_3.mp3	carunculata (NW NSW)	Fighting (with Blue-faced Honeyeater)	© MD
redwatt_20150124_2.mp3	carunculata (NW NSW)	Various	© MD
redwatt_20171022.m4a	carunculata (NW NSW)	? (2x distant female; + a fly)	© MD

More Red Wattlebird sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Wed, 16 August 2023, 0:20 +00:00